Incubating Asian High-Tech Firms in Silicon Valley-Challenges and Trends Presented by: Omar Mencin, President
San Jose Incubator Programs The US Market Access Center is part of the San Jose City Incubator Initiative The San Jose Incubator Initiative is the most accomplished program of its kind $1.5 billion raised in venture financing 5 IPOs Dozens of acquisitions Worked with over 600 companies Created thousands of jobs
OVERVIEW 100 E. Santa Clara Street 26,075 square feet Tenants: U.S. Market Access Center (USMAC) Environmental Business Cluster (EBC) Entrepreneur Center (ecenter) USMAC and EBC moved in November 2009
Benefits of San Jose Location Home to seven technology incubators: Close proximity to technology giants: US MAC's downtown location is close to: top hotels, modern shops, restaurants, night clubs, San Jose Convention Center, HP Pavilion and San Jose International Airport Largest ethnic diversity among entrepreneurs - over 60% of tech entrepreneurs are not American-born Page 4
USMAC Overview Help international companies with US market expansion focused on Silicon Valley 15 year legacy of relationships with foreign trade offices and incubators 37 resident office clients 40+ virtual office clients 80+ mentors & consultants in ICT/Cleantech 10 staff operations, business development, research associates Page 5
Where We re Doing Business Today Canada Ireland Helsinki, Oulu Belgium Holland Norway Finland China France Estonia Czech Republic Japan Spain Slovenia Hungary Korea Italy Vietnam India Chile Singapore Argentina Currently doing business with In nego3a3ons with New Zealand
Why do Asian Firms Come to Silicon Valley? Proximity to Customers Proximity to high quality talent Access to Capital Page 7
Why do Asian Firms Come to Silicon Valley? Access to Capital Markets and M&A exits Nice place to live Ethnically diverse environment
SV still receiving most VC dollars
Major Challenges Asian Firms Face When Entering SV Language Barrier Lack of Knowledge of US Business Culture - Sales and Marketing Lack of Knowledge of US Legal System Lack of Contacts/Network Page 10
Virtuous Cycle Supporting Entrepreneurs: What Asian Entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley Need Mentorship & Market Advice Training & Education Professional Services & Partnerships Investors Startup Entrepreneur Events & Programs Incubation & Collaborative Work Spaces
Japanese Entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley JETRO-BIC program Japanese companies in Silicon Valley tend to focus on hardware, semiconductor-moving into social media, clean-tech software 12-15 companies per year 1-2 years free office space Subsidized market research services 3-4 full-time support staff Page 12
Korean Entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley Korean government trade organization and incubator Korean companies in Silicon Valley have similar focus to Japanese companies KOTRA established 1962 Promotes international trade, ad foreign investment in Korea Their Silicon Valley office helps to promote and market Korean products throughout Northern California and the Pacific Northwest Page 13
Indian Companies Entering Silicon Valley TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs Network) one of the best and most effective ethnic networking and support networks in the Silicon Valley Building on success of Indian Entrepreneurs already in Silicon Valley Software by far the biggest sector Setting up center with subsidized office space Providing funds for resident companies to get help from consultants NASSCOM Indian trade organization for software industry Page 14
Singaporean Entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley IDA Singapore sponsorship of training and mentorship of companies Companies from Singapore focused broadly on all tech sectors biomedical is a large focus. Formed by Singaporean government in 1999 Partnered with USMAC to bring promising Singaporean companies to Silicon Valley to learn about doing business in the US Page 15
Chinese Entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley Chinese companies in Silicon Valley focused across the board-semi-conductor, Clean-technology, software-very broad HYSTA (Hua Yuan Science and Technology Association) Goal to promote entrepreneurship and career development among Chinese professionals in Silicon Valley Facilitate networking and exchange of ideas between Silicon Valley and mainland China Chinese Software Professionals Association (CSPA) and Silicon Valley Chinese Engineers Association (SCEA) are non-profits designed to help Chinese and Chinese Americans network and exchange ideas Page 16
US MAC Services - Try to help address the challenges In Country Training and Preparation: Go Global: Silicon Valley Program, Kauffman Fast Track Program US Virtual Office (US address & Phone) US Affiliate Office (US address, phone and mentorship) US Home Office (Physical office space) Entrepreneur & Business Accelerator Programs Boot camps Market research, marketing & PR Pitch coaching Sales/business development Board recruitment Product development Financing/capital raising Intellectual property, immigration & employment law Page 17
Enter the Competitive US Market Wisely Virtual Office Affiliate Office US Office Begin without US presence Beginning export planning Expanding export activity Actively growing US exports Free access to Webinars Silicon Valley Address and phone number Virtual office plus 3-5 hrs per month mentorship Affiliate plus physical office space Page 18
USMAC Resident Client Profile ICT or Cleantech company from non- U.S. country Starts with virtual presence, grows to physical presence $1M to $10M annual revenueexceptions are made for companies with high potential breakthrough technology 1-2 people, usually tech & sales mix Focus on growth over 24 months Page 19
Go Global: Silicon Valley Early Preparation for the Big Leap to SV IDA Singapore-Example Global Expansion Strategy competition 300 IT companies compete 10 winners receive 4 weeks in Silicon Valley 5-day entrepreneurship boot camp Sector-specific mentoring Meetings with potential investors, customers & partners Ongoing technology events & networking Page 20
Recent US MAC Graduates 25 out of 31 companies realized success 5 companies: Raised VC investment & received government grants worth over $63M 12 companies: Employees 25-150 employees; Revenue: $14M to $200M Other 8 companies: Were acquired by US corporations
Some Interesting Trends to Watch Currently, we are lucky that SV is a desired destination for Asian High Tech firms--will this trend continue? What effect will the current California fiscal situation have? What effect will the continued rise of China and India and other countries have/or are already having? Page 23
Thank you! Omar Mencin President omar@usmarketaccess.com Office: +1-408-351-3338 Mobile: +1-650-387-1585 www.usmarketaccess.com